Princess Elisabeth Station featured in “Ice Lab” Exhibition

Initiated by the British Council and curated by The Arts Catalyst, Ice Lab features four international projects that not only utilise cutting-edge technology and engineering, but have equally considered aesthetics, sustainability and human needs in their ground-breaking designs for research stations:

• Halley VI, UK (Hugh Brougton Architects),
• Princess Elizabeth Antarctica, Belgium (International Polar Foundation),
• Bharati, India (bof architekten/IMS), Jang Bogo, South Korea (Space Group),
• Iceberg Living Station (MAP Architects) – a speculative design for a future research station to be entirely made from compacted snow.

Ice Lab also highlights the diverse science that takes place on the frozen continent – from collecting 4.5 billion year old meteorites that illuminate how the solar system was formed to drilling ice cores whose bubbles of ancient air reveal the earth’s climate history; from cutting edge astronomy peering into the world’s clearest skies to studying its Dry Valleys, the closest thing to "Mars on Earth".

Through architectural drawings, models, photographs, films and a stunning light and audio installation by international visual artist Torsten Lauschmann, Ice Lab evokes a sense of what it takes to live and work in Antarctica. It gives a unique view of the inspiration and ingenuity behind architecture and science in the most isolated place on earth.

If you are in Manchester and Antarctica fascinates you, consider paying the Museum of Science & Industry a visit, the entrance is free.